Since the official announcement on April 14, Liangjiang New Area has been steadily advancing preparations for hosting the home match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

On May 13, following an inspection by the Chinese Football Association (CFA), turf transplantation officially began at Longxing Football Stadium. Around 8,000 square meters of turf, previously cultivated at the training grounds, is being moved into the main stadium and is expected to be fully in place by May 15.

According to CFA’s arrangements, China’s men’s national football team will face Bahrain in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Longxing Stadium in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing. The match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on June 10, 2025.

Longxing Football Stadium, the first professional football stadium in Chongqing, is also one of the largest professional football venues in China. A top-quality turf acts as a silent tactical partner—every precise pass and shot on the pitch depends on the even and resilient support underfoot. Even the head coach designs specific strategies based on the condition of the turf.

To prepare for this crucial qualifier, Chongqing Liangjiang Xinsheng Investment Management Co., Ltd., the operator of Longxing Stadium, has cultivated four full-sized football pitches worth of turf since March. On May 13, turf from training pitch No. 2 began to be transplanted to the main venue, while pitches No. 3 and No. 4 are reserved for team training.

The company’s manager responsible for turf management explained that the turf wasn't cultivated directly inside the stadium due to its semi-enclosed structure, which limits sunlight and airflow—conditions that can negatively affect grass growth.

"This type of grass is well-suited to Chongqing’s climate and can thrive even with limited sunlight," said Zhang Xiaohuan. The grass used is a shade-tolerant variety from the Bermuda series, capable of vigorous growth even at temperatures above 35°C. It has deep roots for strong support, fine leaf texture, and a low rolling resistance, helping ensure the stability of the ball's trajectory at high speeds.

"Since last week, we've been preparing the main pitch by removing the old turf and leveling the ground. After today's transplantation, we’ll begin rolling and compacting the field tomorrow," Zhang added. After transplantation, a layer of fine sand will be spread for localized leveling, followed by high-intensity maintenance including spraying, disease prevention, and fertilization.

Once the turf is in place, the stadium’s smart turf management system will come into play. Beneath the surface lies a five-layer sand and gravel filtration system integrated with a siphon drainage network, enabling intelligent water removal. The underground ventilation system acts like an air conditioner, regulating soil temperature during hot weather to keep the turf in optimal growing conditions.

"We are fully committed to maintaining turf quality and ensuring it meets FIFA’s A-level match standards," said Zhou Jianguo, deputy head of the event preparation team from Liangjiang Xinsheng. Other preparations are also progressing in an orderly manner, including competition equipment supply, structural renovations, power maintenance, facade cleaning, replacement of damaged stone, and beautification of the surrounding environment.